Eyeing Novartis deal, Akcea trumpets lipoprotein drug data
Pharmaphorum Media Limited | November 14, 2018
Ionis affiliate Akcea Pharma has new data for its antisense drug for elevated lipoprotein levels in patients with cardiovascular disease that it hopes will entice Novartis into a licensing deal. The phase II results – reported at the American Heart Association meeting – show that AKCEA-APO(a)-LRx is effective in cutting levels of lipoprotein(a), an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease that isn’t generally controlled with existing drugs. Among patients on the highest dose of AKCEA-APO(a)-LRx of 20 mg once-weekly, 98% saw Lp(a) levels drop below the recommended risk threshold, which Akcea says more than fulfills its criteria for taking the drug forward into a phase III programme.
It still has to negotiate an end-of-phase II meeting with the FDA, but if that goes to plan it will trigger a decision by Novartis on an option it took on AKCEA-APO(a)-LRx and another Akcea drug for elevated triglycerides last year. If the Swiss drugmaker bites, Akcea, and Ionis stand to pocket a $150 million license fee.